Mobile device expansion system

ABSTRACT

An expansion device is provided for expanding the functionality of a mobile electronic device while in a mobile mode and/or in a desktop mode. The expansion device may be a media slice that provides multimedia functionality to a mobile electronic device. The media slice may be configured to receive an electromechanical interface from the mobile electronic device and to replicate the electromechanical interface for connecting to another expansion device, such as to a docking station or a port replicator. The expansion device and the mobile electronic device may be connected via a latch mechanism that easily couples and de-couples the devices. An expansion system is also provided that includes a support stand for providing orientation and support features for a computing device and/or an expansion device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/060,353, filed Feb. 18, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,200,702 entitled“Mobile Device Expansion System” and incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a computer expansion system. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to an expansion device forinterfacing with a mobile electronic device to expand the functionalityand/or connectivity of the mobile electronic device.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Mobile electronic devices are becoming increasingly thin and light,which can improve their mobility and extend their battery life. However,these mobile devices often sacrifice functionality, such as opticaldrives and multimedia devices (e.g., speakers), to improve theirmobility characteristics. Such mobile devices can be connected toindividual peripheral devices to expand their functionality as desired,but this can be inconvenient or cumbersome when connecting multipledevices. They can also be connected to docking stations and portreplicators to provide expanded functionality while in a desktop mode.

Conventional docking stations and port replicators permit mobile devicesto be quickly converted into stationary, desktop workstations via simpleconnections to peripheral devices. When the mobile device is attached tothe docking station or port replicator, the mobile device accesses theperipheral devices connected to the docking station or port replicator,which increases its functionality for use in desktop mode. The mobiledevice quickly connects to the docking station or port replicator via aconnector port, such as a universal serial bus connector or a smallcomputer systems interface connector.

Conventional docking stations connect to a keyboard, a mouse, a networkcard and a power supply. Some docking stations also provide slots forexpansion cards, furnish bays for optical drives and hard drives,include multimedia speakers, and/or offer connectivity to an externalmonitor. Further, some docking stations include a stand for supportingan external monitor. Conventional port replicators are similar todocking stations in that they permit peripheral devices to be attachedto the mobile device to convert it to a desktop workstation. However,port replicators tend to be smaller than docking stations and are not asreadily expandable as a docking station. Further, port replicators donot include a monitor stand, expansion cards, supply bays for opticaldrives and hard drives, or multimedia speakers.

Users of conventional mobile computing devices have the option oflimited functionality of the device while in a mobile mode, the optionof connecting individual devices to the mobile device for expandingspecific functionality as desired, or the option of using a portreplicator or docking station to connect multiple devices thereto whilein a desktop mode.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention provides an expansion device for quickly expandingthe functionality of a mobile electronic device while in a mobile modeand/or in a desktop mode. Aspects of the invention include an expansiondevice that receives an electro-mechanical interface from the mobileelectronic device, and that replicates the electro-mechanical interfacefor connecting the expansion device to another expansion device. In oneembodiment, the expansion device is a media slice that providesmultimedia functionality to a mobile electronic device. The media slicemay be configured to receive an electromechanical interface from themobile electronic device and to replicate the electromechanicalinterface of the mobile device for connecting to another expansiondevice, such as to a docking station or to a port replicator.

Various aspects of the invention include an interface system forconnecting the mobile electronic device to a first expansion device, andfor connecting the first expansion device to the second expansiondevice. The expansion devices and the mobile electronic device may beconnected via a latch mechanism that couples and de-couples respectivedevice and indicates the connected status of the expansion device.Additional aspects of the invention may include orientation and supportfeatures for an expansion device.

In other aspects, computer-executable instructions for implementing thedisclosed methods are stored on computer-readable media. These and otheraspects are addressed in relation to the figures and relateddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates connections for a mobile device expansion systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes ageneral-purpose PC, a media slice, and a PC stand.

FIG. 2 shows the PC, the media slice and the PC stand of FIG. 1 in aconnected mode with the PC in a landscape orientation.

FIG. 3 is a functional diagram of the general-purpose PC of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a front view of the PC of FIG. 1 shown as an example tabletPC.

FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the tablet PC of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a front view of the media slice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5B is a rear view of the media slice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5C is a rear, perspective view of the media slice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows the PC of FIG. 1 in the process of being connected to themedia slice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the PC and the media slice of FIG. 6after being connected together.

FIG. 8 shows the PC stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 shows the PC of FIG. 1 connected to the PC stand of FIG. 1 anddisposed in a portrait orientation without the PC being connected to themedia slice.

FIG. 10 shows the media slice and the PC stand of FIG. 1 connected toeach other without being connected to a PC.

FIG. 11 shows a media slice and a PC stand in a functional mode apartfrom a computing device according to another embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 12 shows a media slice carrying case according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a computing device expansion system 100 according toan embodiment of the invention, which generally includes a PC stand 102,an expansion device 104 and a computing device 106. Expansion device 104interfaces with computing device 106 to expand the functionality of thecomputing device. For instance, computing device 106 may be anultra-lightweight mobile computer that does not include multimediahardware (e.g., an optical drive and speakers). Expansion device 104 isconfigured to provide multimedia hardware to the computing device, asdesired, in both a portable and a desktop configuration withoutaffecting its connectivity to PC stand 102, such as to a dockingstation.

The computing device may be a mobile PC, such as tablet PC 106 shown inFIG. 1. However, aspects of the invention may be applicable for avariety of computing devices, such as a laptop PC, a personal digitalassistant, a mobile terminal, etc. In addition, the expansion device canbe a device that provides various types of expanded functionality.

As an example, the expansion device may be a media slice 104 as shown inFIG. 1 that includes multimedia speakers 108, an optical drive 110 suchas a DVD player, and an extra battery 112 for providing extended powerto the system. The PC stand may be a docking station 102 that permitsthe PC to connect quickly with peripheral devices (not shown) coupled tothe docking station, such as a power supply, a keyboard, a mouse and anetwork interface, which provide desktop functionality to the PC whenconnected thereto. However, the PC stand may simply be a powered ornon-powered support for the PC that include very little expandedfunctionality or none at all.

PC 106 is configured to interface with media slice 104 using aconnector, such as a small computer systems interface (SCSI) connector,a universal serial bus (USB) port, a serial port, a parallel port, aperipheral component interconnect (PCI) connector, a PCI expressconnector, an industry standard architecture (ISA) bus connector, awireless transmitter/receiver and/or another type of connector.Similarly, media slice 104 is configured to interface with stand 102 viathe same type connector; although it may interface with the stand usinga different type of connector. In the example shown in FIG. 1, PC 106,media slice 104 and stand 102 are configured to be electromechanicallyconnected together in a daisy chain (serial) configuration. A daisychain connection can permit a plurality of expansion devices (not shown)to be included in a serial connection from PC 106 to stand 102. Thus,media slice 104 is shown in FIG. 2 as being integrally connected betweenPC 106 and stand 102. The addition of media slice 104 or other expansiondevices permits specialized, expanded functionality as desired by theuser in either a mobile mode or a desktop mode.

PC 106 in the present example is a thin, lightweight tablet PC that doesnot include multimedia speakers or an optical drive. The lack of thesedevices may improve the mobility, weight, and battery longevitycharacteristics of the tablet PC. However, it may be desirable for theuser of the tablet PC to have expanded multimedia functionality on thetablet PC as needed. For instance, it may be desirable for the user towatch a DVD on the tablet PC while traveling with it in a portable mode,but otherwise to exclude this functionality and its mobilitydisadvantages from the tablet PC. The expanded functionality may beprovided by connecting the PC 106 to media slice 104. After watching themovie, the user can remove the media slice to reduce weight and/or toimprove portability of the PC when the expanded functionality is notneeded.

In another example, media slice 104 can provide expanded functionalityto a desktop configuration of the PC in addition to that provided bydocking station 102. In such a configuration, media slice 104 connectsto PC 106 via an expansion connector, such as a SCSI connector of thePC. The media slice preferably replicates the expansion connector of thePC for connecting the PC/media slice combination to the docking stationin a daisy chain fashion. However, the media slice could also interfacewith the PC using a different type of interface than that the interfacebetween the media slice and the stand. Use of a common type of interfacebetween these devices, though, simplifies connections and readilyprovides for daisy chain connections between multiple devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an illustrative conventionalgeneral-purpose digital computing environment for a computer 300, suchas tablet PC 106, which can be used to implement various aspects of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 3, computer 300 includes aprocessing unit 310, a system memory 320, and a system bus 330 thatcouples various system components including the system memory to theprocessing unit 3 10. The system bus 330 may be any of several types ofbus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. Thesystem memory 320 includes read only memory (ROM) 340 and random accessmemory (RAM) 350.

A basic input/output system 360 (BIOS), containing the basic routinesthat help to transfer information between elements within the computer300, such as during start-up, is stored in the ROM 340. The computer 300also includes a hard disk drive 370 for reading from and writing to ahard disk (not shown). It could also include a magnetic disk drive 380for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk 390, and anoptical disk drive 391 for reading from or writing to a removableoptical disk 392 such as a CD ROM or other optical media. The hard diskdrive 370, magnetic disk drive 380, and optical disk drive 391 areconnected to the system bus 330 by a hard disk drive interface 392, amagnetic disk drive interface 393, and an optical disk drive interface394, respectively. The drives and their associated computer-readablemedia provide nonvolatile storage of computer readable instructions,data structures, program modules and other data for the personalcomputer 300. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatother types of computer readable media that can store data that isaccessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memorycards, digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, random access memories(RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like, may also be used in theexample operating environment.

A number of program modules can be stored on the hard disk drive 370,magnetic disk 390, optical disk 392, ROM 340 or RAM 350, including anoperating system 395, one or more application programs 396, otherprogram modules 397, and program data 398. A user can enter commands andinformation into the computer 300 through input devices such as akeyboard 301 and pointing device or other input device 302. Other inputdevices (not shown) may include a directional input device, amicrophone, a joystick, a game pad, a satellite dish, scanner or thelike.

These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit310 through a serial port interface 306 that is coupled to the systembus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port,a game port or a universal serial bus (USB). Further still, thesedevices may be coupled directly to the system bus 330 via an appropriateexpansion connector 331, such as a SCSI connector, a PCI connector, aPCI express connector, or an ISA connector. In addition, an expansionconnector 331 may be used for connecting to an expansion device, such asmedia slice 104, or to a plurality of expansion devices connected in adaisy chain configuration. A monitor 307 or other type of display deviceis also connected to the system bus 330 via an interface, such as avideo adapter 308. In addition to the monitor, personal computerstypically include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such asspeakers and printers.

In one embodiment, a pen digitizer 365 and accompanying pen or stylus366 are provided to digitally capture freehand input. Although thedigitizer 365 is shown apart from the monitor 307, the usable input areaof the digitizer 365 may be co-extensive with the display area of themonitor 307. Further still, the digitizer 365 may be integrated in themonitor 307, or may exist as a separate device overlaying or otherwiseappended to the monitor 307.

The computer 300 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer309. The remote computer 309 can be a server, a router, a network PC, apeer device or other common network node, and typically includes many orall of the elements described above relative to the computer 300,although only a memory storage device 311 has been illustrated in FIG.3. The logical connections depicted in FIG. 3 include a local areanetwork (LAN) 312 and a wide area network (WAN) 313. Such networkingenvironments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computernetworks, intranets and the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 300 is connectedto the local network 312 through a network interface or adapter 314.When used in a WAN networking environment, the personal computer 300typically includes a modem 315 or other means for establishing acommunications over the wide area network 313, such as the Internet. Themodem 315, which may be internal or external, is connected to the systembus 330 via the serial port interface 306. In a networked environment,program modules depicted relative to the personal computer 300, orportions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device.Further, the system may include wired and/or wireless capabilities. Forexample, network interface 314 may include Bluetooth, SWLan, and/or IEEE802.11 class of combination abilities. It is appreciated that otherwireless communication protocols may be used in conjunction with theseprotocols or in place of these protocols.

It will be appreciated that the network connections shown areillustrative and other techniques for establishing a communications linkbetween the computers can be used. The existence of any of variouswell-known protocols such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, FTP, HTTP and the like ispresumed, and the system can be operated in a client-serverconfiguration to permit a user to retrieve web pages from a web-basedserver. Any of various conventional web browsers can be used to displayand manipulate data on web pages.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an illustrative tablet PC 106 that can be used inaccordance with various aspects of the present invention. Any or all ofthe features, subsystems, and functions in the system of FIG. 3 can beincluded in the computer of FIGS. 4A and 4B. As shown, tablet PC 106includes a housing 420 and a large display surface 402, e.g., adigitizing flat panel display, preferably, a liquid crystal display(LCD) screen, on which a plurality of windows may be displayed. In theexample shown in FIG. 4A, a single window is shown displaying a textualdocument 408 along with hand-drawn graphics 409, a vertical scroll bar410, a horizontal scroll bar 412, a header menu 414, and a toolbar 416.Document 408 is shown being displayed in a landscape orientation;although other orientations are possible.

As shown in FIG. 4B, an underside 428 of tablet PC 106 includes akeyhole slot 430 for securing the PC to media slice 104, to PC stand102, or to another expansion device. A rear portion 432 of PC 106includes port connectors, such as a first expansion connector 434, aserial port 436, a video card connector 438, and a network interfaceconnector 440. Rear portion 432 further includes a power supplyinterface 442 for receiving a power supply connection. In addition, rearportion 432 includes a pair of alignment slots 444 and latching holes446 for use with aligning and retaining the PC in an interfaceconnection with media slice 104, PC stand 102 or another expansiondevice.

First expansion connector 434 provides an electromechanical interfacethrough which media slice 104, PC stand 102 or another expansion devicecan be simply and directly attached to it. Connector 434 may be a firstpart of a SCSI, PCI, PCI express, USB or other type of high-speed busconnection for connecting PC 106 to one or more peripheral devices thatcan expand functionality of the PC. Preferably, connector 434 isconfigured to permit hot swapping of devices connected thereto, as wellas the connection of plug and play devices that do not need to bepre-installed on the PC. Although shown as a single connector, aplurality of connectors may also be used for interfacing with mediaslice 104 or other expansion devices. Further, PC 106 may optionally beconfigured to wirelessly connect to media slice 104, such as via aBLUETOOTH connection or a WLAN connection.

FIGS. 5A-5C show an illustrative media slice 104, which is an expansiondevice that can be used in accordance with aspects of the invention. Asshown in FIG. 5A, media slice 104 includes a back 502 for supporting PC106, a base 504 for connecting with an interface region of computingdevice (e.g., rear portion 432 of PC 106), a retention button 506,alignment pins 508, latches 510, Release button 512, power interface 514and a second expansion connector 516. Retention button 506 is configuredto be received by keyhole slot 430 on the underside of the PC and to beretained therein for preventing the PC from rotating away from the mediaslice in a connected state. Alignment pins 508 are received by alignmentslots 444 of the PC for properly aligning the PC as it slides intoengagement with the media slice. Latches 510 are hook latches aremovable between an engaged position (e.g., toward the left as shown inFIG. 5A) for latching the PC to the media slice and disengaged position(e.g., toward the right as shown in FIG. 5A). Release button 512 isconnected to the hook latches for moving between the engaged anddisengaged positions, which permits a user to disengage the PC easilyfrom the media slice. Power interface 514 connects with power supplyinterface 442 of the PC to provide power when the media slice and PC areconnected. Second expansion connector 516 is configured to mate withfirst expansion connector 434 of the PC to expand its functionality. Assuch, connector 516 is the second part of the SCSI, PCI, PCI express,USB or other type of high-speed bus connection 434 of PC 106 thatpermits the PC to access the expanded functionality of the media slice.

Media slice additionally includes an integrated optical drive, such asCD/DVD player 517, a set of stereo speakers 518, and an optionalauxiliary battery pack 520. These are merely example peripheral devicesbuilt into the media slice. It is understood that media slice 104 couldbe an expansion device that includes a wide variety of peripheraldevices, which may or may not be specialized for particular functions.For instance, it could be an expansion device that includes a secondhard drive, a backup storage system for periodic backups of a computingdevice, a set of extended life batteries, analog audio and videoconverters converting analog signals to digital signals and vice versa,etc.

In the present example, media slice 104 provides expanded multimediafunctionality to PC 106 for playing compact disks (CDs) or digital videodisks (DVDs) and for providing stereo audio output in associationtherewith. It also optionally provides a supplemental power supply frombattery pack 520 to support the power requirements of the additionalmultimedia functionality. However, the additional functionality may alsobe powered by PC 106 through connector 516 and/or by an external powersource to the media slice. The media slice can permit a user of the PCthat lacks DVD player functionality to watch DVDs on the PC in a mobileor desktop mode as desired. By connecting the PC to the media slice whenthe expanded functionality is desired, the user can maintain themobility and battery life advantages of the PC at other times. In otherwords, the user can have a lightweight, highly portable PC when desired,and can connect to the media slice to provide DVD playing functionalitywhen such functionality is desired.

As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, media slice 104 generally replicates theconnectors of PC 106 along its rear portion 432, which is covered bybase 504 when it is connected to the media slice. This permits the mediaslice/PC unit to be connected to another expansion device, such asdocking stand 102, a port replicator (not shown), or another mediaslice. As such, PC 106 can easily be attached in a serial, daisy chainconfiguration to several expansion devices. To assist simpleconnectivity between these devices, media slice 104 preferably includesa third expansion connector 522 that is the same type of connector asfirst expansion connector 434 on PC 106. This permits the same type ofhigh-speed connection (e.g., a SCSI, PCI, PCI Express, or USBconnection) used to connect the PC to the media slice to be continued toadditional expansion devices. In other words, the media slice generallyreplicates the connection configuration and physical layout ofconnectors on the PC to which it attaches so that the PC/media sliceunit may be further connected to another device in a like manner. Inaddition to replicating the PC's connection configuration, the mediaslice may also include supplemental connectors beyond those provided onthe PC, such as additional USB ports 524 shown in FIG. 5C.

As shown in FIG. 5B, media slice 104 also includes a keyhole slot 526 onits underside, which permits it to attach to PC stand 102 or to anotherexpansion device in the same way as the PC attaches to the media slice.As further shown, media slice 104 may also include features forenhancing use of the media slice/PC unit in apart from a stand or otherdevice. For instance, the media slice may include foldout legs 528 forsupport the PC at a desirable viewing angle when the media slice/PC unitis placed on a substantially horizontal surface. FIG. 6 shows thePC/media slice unit in an angled mode of use provided by legs 528 and afront portion of the media slice. Such an angled configuration canimprove viewability of the PC screen when playing a DVD or otherwiseinteracting with the PC.

As shown in FIG. 7, PC 106 can easily be connected to media slice 104 byhorizontally sliding the PC such that alignment holes 444 slide alongalignment posts 508 to move rear portion 432 to media slice base 504.Although not shown in FIG. 7, the PC is placed on the media slice suchthat button 506 (see FIG. 5A) of the media slice is received in keyholeslot 430 (see FIG. 4B) of the PC and the alignment posts align with thealignment holes. When rear portion 432 and base 504 move proximate toeach other, latches 510 preferably snap into their engaged positions toretain the PC and media slice in a mated configuration. Thus, mediaslice may be automatically connected to the PC by simply sliding themtogether. The user can also easily disconnect the devices by simplymoving the release button 512 from its engaged position to itsdisengaged position, which moves latches 510 connected thereto fromtheir engaged positions to their disengaged positions, and sliding thePC apart from the media slice. The PC can be configured for hot swappingof the connection to the media slice. As such, simply sliding therelease button 512 to its release position and moving the PC apart fromthe media slice will cause the PC to drop the logical connection withthe media slice. Optionally, the media slice and PC may be configuredsuch that moving the release button to its release position sends asignal to the PC to close the logical connection to the media slice.Thus, in the single step of moving the release button to its releaseposition, the logical connection between the PC and the media slice canbe closed so the electromechanical connection can then be safelyunplugged.

Release button 512 provides the further advantage of easily identifyingto the user the connection state of the PC with the media slice. If therelease button is in its engaged position (to the left in FIG. 2), theuser can quickly tell that the PC and media slice are properly mated. Ifit is in its disengaged position (to the right in FIG. 7), the user canquickly tell that the PC and media slice are functionally disconnected.Optionally, state indicators may be provided on the PC, media slice,and/or stand to indicate the connection state between respectivedevices. For instance, a light emitting diode (LED) may change colorsdepending on the connection state or different LEDs may indicatedifferent connection states. Further, it is understood that otherrelease mechanisms may be used, such as a dedicated release button, asoft key providing release functionality, or a software selectableoption for releasing an electrical and/or physical connection betweendevices.

FIG. 8 generally shows PC stand 102 apart from PC 106 and media slice104. PC stand 102 is configured to support PC 106 at variousorientations that may be desired by the user for viewing the PC, forinteracting with it, and/or for writing and drawing on its interactivescreen. The PC stand includes a base 802, a back 804 having anengagement button 805, and a pedestal 806. As with base portion 504 ofthe media slice, base 802 is configured to mate with rear portion 432 ofPC 106 or the rear portion of the media slice. Similarly, the baseincludes latches 808, alignment posts 810, a power supply interface 812,a release button 814, and an expansion connector 816, which operatesubstantially the same as the corresponding features of the media slice.As such, PC 106 can mate with PC stand 102 by receiving button 805 intokeyhole 430 and by permitting alignment holes 444 to slide alongalignment posts 810 until latches 808 engage the PC.

As shown, PC stand 102 is configured to have a small shape relative toPC 106 such that it generally does not extend beyond the perimeter ofthe PC when mated thereto. Further, back 804 may be transparent to makethe stand unobtrusive when empty. As shown, the stand has tiltadjustment in the direction of angle 818, height adjustment along slide820, and orientation (rotation) adjustment in the direction of arc 822.The plurality of adjustments provides near/tilted positions, such asshown in FIG. 8, for easy writing on and/or viewing of the PC. They alsoprovide far/raised positions, such as shown in FIG. 2, for tiling viathe use of a second monitor. It further supports rotation betweenportrait and landscape orientations in both near/tilted and far/raisedpositions. It achieves low desktop obtrusiveness by having a main frontsurface, which is largely transparent, and by only coming forward ofthat surface on two of the PC's four edges along base portion 802.

PC stand 102 may act as docking station to provide expandedfunctionality to PC 106 while in a desktop mode, such as connecting itto a full-sized keyboard, an external monitor, a mouse, etc. (notshown). Further, the PC stand may provide minimal expandedfunctionality, such as a wired power supply, or provide no expandedelectronic functionality at all. The stand may omit connector 816 if itdoes not provide expanded electronic functionality therewith. Further,as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, media slice 104 may be connected to PC stand102 along with PC 106 (see FIG. 2), or it may be connected to the PCstand without the PC (see FIG. 10). Further, the PC may be directlyconnected to the PC stand in a conventional docking stationconfiguration (see FIG. 9). As such, a user may add or exclude the mediaslice in connections with the PC stand depending on the functionalityprovided by the stand alone and the desirability of the additionalfunctionality provided by the media slice.

In an optional embodiment shown in FIG. 11, an expansion system 1100includes a media slice 1102 connected with a desktop stand 1104 toprovide functionality without a separate computing device beingconnected thereto. In the example shown, the media slice includes a DVDdrive 1106, a processor 1108, memory 1110, speakers 1111 and a graphicscard 11 12. Connected to the media slice is a monitor 1114, a keyboard1116 and a mouse 1118. In operation, the processor processesinstructions stored in memory 1110, which may include read only memory(ROM) for providing DVD functionality instructions to the device. Thekeyboard and mouse permit a user to operate the DVD player in theabsence of another computing device. When connected to a personalcomputer or other computing device, the media slice may add DVD playerfunctionality to the computing device, and the PC stand may act asdocking station for interfacing with desktop peripheral devices, such askeyboard 1116 and monitor 1114.

With the advent of high-speed bus connections, such as PCI express,media slice 1102 may operate as an independent computing device in afurther embodiment, which is also illustrated by FIG. 11. For example,expansion system 1100 may be configured to operate as a lowfunctionality desktop computer in the absence of a personal computerconnected thereto. When the personal computer is connected therewith,such as PC 106, the system may provide a desktop computer with a higherlevel of functionality than that of the PC alone. High-speedconnections, such as PCI express, can permit the additional PC tocooperate with the computing functionality of the media slice to enhancethe computing capabilities of the PC alone. For instance, processor 1108of the media slice may act as a second processor along with theadditional PC to provide a dual processor device. In another example,media slice 1402 and its processing functionality may be used by the PCfor secondary processing, such as to provide secondary video processingfor displaying high-quality graphics or to expand the PC to operate as acomputer-aided drafting (CAD) station.

Referring now to FIG. 12, a media slice carrying system 1200 isgenerally shown. The carrying system includes a carrying case 1202, amedia slice 1204, and media storage sleeves 1206. As shown, the recess1208 in the media slice for receiving a PC nests well with stacks ofCDs, DVDs or other media 1210 stored therein. As such, carrying case1202 can carry the media slice and store a plurality of media disks in asingle, compact unit that is easy for a user to carry along with a PC.

Aspects of the present invention have been described in terms ofillustrative embodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments,modifications and variations within the scope and spirit of the appendedclaims will occur to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a reviewof this disclosure. In particular, it is understood that aspects of theinvention may practiced with a large variety of computing devices,including personal computers, mobile devices, PDAs, and mobileterminals. Further, it is understood that aspects of the invention maybe used with expansion devices, peripheral devices, PC stands, dockingstations, port replicators and computing devices, either alone, incombination, and/or as part of system.

1. A media slice for a tablet PC, the media slice comprising: anL-shaped body having a first leg portion adapted to overlie a first sideof the tablet PC and a second leg adapted to overlie a second side ofthe tablet PC; a media player; an audio speaker in communication withthe media player; a first connector configured to connect with anexpansion connector of the tablet PC and to permit the tablet PC tointeract with the media player; and a second connector configured toreplicate the expansion connector of the tablet PC, the second connectorelectrically connected with the first connector to enable an expansiondevice connected to the second connector to interface with the tablet PCwhile the tablet PC is connected to the first connector; wherein thesecond leg is configured to mate with a computer stand.
 2. An expansionunit for providing expanded functionality to a tablet PC while bridginga connection from the tablet PC to a tablet PC stand, the expansion unitcomprising: a first peripheral device providing expanded functionalityto the tablet PC when electrically connected to the tablet PC; a firstconnector permitting the tablet PC to interface with the firstperipheral device when the first connector is electrically connected tothe tablet PC; a second connector electrically connected to the firstconnector and permitting the tablet PC to interface with the tablet PCstand via the first and second connectors when the second connector iselectrically connected to the tablet PC stand; wherein the expansionunit is configured to be disposed between the tablet PC and the tabletPC stand when the first connector is electrically connected to thetablet PC and the second connector is electrically connected to thetablet PC stand; wherein the expansion unit has an L-shaped crosssection comprising a first leg and a second leg.
 3. The expansion unitof claim 2 wherein said first leg is configured to be disposed between afirst portion of the tablet PC and a first portion of the tablet PCstand and wherein the second leg is configured to be disposed between asecond portion of the tablet PC and a second portion of the tablet PCstand.
 4. The expansion unit of claim 3 including at least one speakeron said second leg.
 5. A media slice for a tablet PC, the media slicecomprising: an L-shaped body having a first leg portion adapted tooverlie a first side of the tablet PC and a second leg adapted tooverlie a second side of the tablet PC; a media player; an audio speakerin communication with the media player; a first connector configured toconnect with an expansion connector of the tablet PC and to permit thetablet PC to interact with the media player; and a second connectorconfigured to replicate the expansion connector of the tablet PC, thesecond connector electrically connected with the first connector toenable an expansion device connected to the second connector tointerface with the tablet PC while the tablet PC is connected to thefirst connector; wherein the second leg is configured to mate with acomputer stand, and wherein said first connector is located on a firstside of said second leg and said second connector is located on a secondside of said second leg opposite from said first side.